Means for carrying and displaying articles

ABSTRACT

A changeable folded paper article comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels folded in a twisted closed loop in a substantially planar configuration called a flexagon, having at least three physical faces, contains articles, such as matches, drug samples and other similar items, removably attached to at least one of the faces. The flexagon may be manipulated by the user to alternatively expose and hide the articles from view or to expose successive groups of articles. In the case of matches, one or more of the faces may have a match striking surface.

11] 3,866,748 Feb/l8, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Manning, Jr.

ARTICLES Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer Robert A. Manning, Jr. 4714 Lee ttfirney, Agent, or Firm-Gary, .Iuettner, Pigott & sr, Downers Grove, 111 60515 Filed: June 20, 1972 I MEANS FOR CARRYING AND DISPLAYING [76] Inventor:

ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No; 264,633

A changeable folded paper article comprising a pluralof the faces. The flexagon may be manipulated by the user to alternatively expose and hide the articles from view or to expose successive groups of articles. In the case of matches, one or more of the faces may have a match striking surface.

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PATENTEBFEBI 81975 MEANS FOR CARRYING AND DISPLAYING ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of the Invention This invention relates to means for carrying and displaying articles in an unusual and unconventional manner, said means being particularly adapted to the dispensing of samples of products, drugs, matches, and other articles that are fairly thin.

As will be described in greater detail herein, a socalled flexagon is a known device that is usually constructed from a folded sheet material such as paper. Depending upon its construction and complexity, a flexagon may be manipulated or flexed to reveal any number of physical faces from three to an unlimited number. Since only two faces are exposed at a given time, at least one of the faces is hidden from view until exposed by flexing. Such devices may be constructed in a wide variety of shapes, with square (tetra) and hexagonal (hexa).being typical.

Although folded paper devices of this nature have been known per se since 1939, very few efforts have been made to adapt the flexagon to acommercial use.

' The primary use of such devices has been in the novelty and amusement field, although the general principle has also been adapted to toys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes the principle of the multiple faces of a flexagon in combination with one or more articles being attached to one or more of the faces. Proper manipulation of the flexagon to reveal a hidden face will also reveal the article or articles attached thereto. As a result, the flexagon may be prepared to have the articles hidden from view, and upon flexing, the articles will be exposed to view. If matches are attached to one of the faces, a striking surface may be provided on the opposite face. Any other articles which are fairly thin and flat may be contained in this manner, and advertising material or instructions may also be printed on one or more of the faces.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one side of the carrying means of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the other side of the means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hidden face of the means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the articles carried thereby;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating other articles carried by said means;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 article shown in unfolded condition; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the other side of the article shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The article shown in the drawing comprises what is known as a tri-hexa flexagon, sometimes referred to simply as a flexagon. The flexagon shown has a hexagonal outline and has two visible faces and 12 and one normally hidden face 14. It will be understood, however, that any other type of flexagon may be employed for the purpose of the present invention. Other types It may be seen that the flexagon shown'is made up from a plurality of equilateral triangles 16, adjacent triangles being hingedly connected and folded into a twisted loop to form a flat figure. The flexagon may be constructed from a strip of creased paper having the shape ofa parallelogram as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or may be constructed from stiff triangles connected by flexible hinges. The creased triangles are then folded over in pairs in successive folds to form a'hexagonal figure.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the strip of paper contains ten triangles, one of the triangles at the end, indicated as 20, being used as a tab. A concave fold is made at lines 22 and 24 and a convex fold is made at 26 (FIG. 5), and the tab 20 is pulled up over and is glued or otherwise secured to the triangle 16a to complete the structure shown in FIGS. l-3. Thus, the tri-hexa flexagon is made up of 18 triangles (called pats), although only 12 triangles or pats (six to a face) are visible at any given time.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, paper book matches 28 are secured to one or more of the faces of the flexagon. Preferably, the matches 28 or other articles are sufficiently small to be confined within the surface area of the triangular pats, in order that the presence of such articles will not interfere with the manipulation of the flexagon. A wide variety of other articles may also be secured to the pats, such as pills, tokens, novelties, samples of materials, etc., as long as such articles are fairly thin. Powdered materials may be contained in flat packages 29 corresponding to the size of a pat, as shown in FIG. 3a. The overall size of the flexagon may be varied to accommodate articles having various surface areas.

If matches are provided on one of the faces, a striking surface 30 may be provided on one of the other faces of the flexagon. In this manner, the user will be required to turn the flexagon over before striking the match, which is an important safety feature.

The articles may be secured to the pats of the flexagon either prior to or after assembly thereof but preferably are applied prior to assembly as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the articles are preferably secured to three alternate pats in a spaced relationship. In order to accomplish this result prior to the assembly of the flexagon, the articles or materials are attached in a predetermined position such that after construction, the articles will be properly located on one face. To accomplish the arrangement, the articles are secured on the pats with three pats between adjacent articles, the end articles being located on one side of the strip and the central article being located on the other side of the strip, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In order to manipulate the flexagon shown in FIG. 2, the device is pinched between the thumb and foreginger at one of the corners and the opposite corner is pushed inwardly. If proper corners are selected the device will fold and then unfold to reveal an entirely new face. Additional flexing will revert the flexagon back to its original configuration. In this manner, the flexagon may be furnished with articles such as matches located on a hiddenface, and the user will be required to properly manipulate the device to expose the matches or other articles.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that the present invention provides for a novel and unique means for carrying small articles in a protected manner while maintaining the amusement value of the flexagon.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for carrying articles comprising a flexible device comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels folded in a twisted closed loop in a substantially planar configuration, said device being manipulable to tially thin and flat article mounted on one of said facing panels and being entirely hidden from view, said device being manipulable to expose said article.

2. The means of claim I wherein said article comprises book matches.

3. The means of claim 2 wherein a striking surface is mounted on another of said panels.

4. The means of claim 1 wherein said article comprises a material contained in a package attached to 

1. Means for carrying articles comprising a flexible device comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels folded in a twisted closed loop in a substantially planar configuration, said device being manipulable to reversibly locate certain panels facing outward with certain other panels facing one another, and a substantially thin and flat article mounted on one of said facing panels and being entirely hidden from view, said device being manipulable to expose said article.
 2. The means of claim 1 wherein said article comprises book matches.
 3. The means of claim 2 wherein a striking surface is mounted on another of said panels.
 4. The means of claim 1 wherein said article comprises a material contained in a package attached to said panel. 